(a) Authority for multiyear procurement

Subject to section 3501 of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of the Army may enter into one or more multiyear contracts, beginning with fiscal year 2027, for the procurement of Infantry Squad Vehicles (ISV), including associated components, spare parts, and support equipment.

(b) Conditions

(c) Advance procurement

The Secretary may include in a contract entered into under subsection (a) provisions for economic order quantity purchases of long-lead items to achieve cost efficiencies.

(a) Inclusion in strategic planning

The Secretary of the Army shall ensure that the Army National Guard is fully integrated into the implementation and future iterations of the document entitled Regaining Arctic Dominance: The U.S. Army in the Arctic (or any successor strategy).

(b) Requirements

In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of the Army shall carry out the following activities:

(c) Report required

Not later than June 30, 2027, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the specific roles, missions, and resource requirements identified for the Army National Guard within the Army's Arctic strategy.

(a) In general

Section 129 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 2448), as most recently amended by section 121 of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118–159; 138 Stat. 1804), is further amended—

(b) Technical amendment

Subsection (g)(2) of such section 129 is amended by striking section 4251(d) and inserting section 4251(e).

(a) Vessel construction manager

If the Secretary of the Navy seeks to acquire one or more cable laying and repair ships, the Secretary shall seek to enter into an agreement with an appropriate vessel construction manager pursuant to which the vessel construction manager shall seek to enter into a contract for the construction of such ships.

(b) Design standards and construction practices

The Secretary of the Navy shall ensure that ships procured under subsection (a)—

(a) Authority

The Secretary of the Navy (in this section referred to as the Secretary) may convey, without consideration, to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission in Huntsville, Alabama (in this section referred to as the Commission), all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to 3 surplus F–14D Tomcat aircraft, (Bureau Numbers 164341, 164602, 159437), which are excess to the operational requirements of the Navy.

(b) Form of conveyance

The conveyance under subsection (a) shall be made by means of a conditional deed of gift.

(c) Condition of aircraft

The aircraft being conveyed under subsection (a) do not have any capability for use as a platform for launching or releasing munitions or any other combat capability that it was designed to have.

(d) Conditions

The Secretary shall include in the instrument of conveyance of the aircraft under subsection (a)—

(e) Agreements for restoration and operation

The Secretary may—

(f) Reverter upon breach of conditions

The Secretary shall include in the instrument of conveyance of the aircraft under subsection (a)—

(g) Conveyance at no cost to the United States

The conveyance of an aircraft under subsection (a) shall be made at no cost to the United States. Any costs associated with such conveyance, costs of determining compliance with terms of the conveyance, and costs of operation and maintenance of the aircraft conveyed shall be borne by the Commission.

(h) Clarification of liability

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon the conveyance of ownership of the aircraft under subsection (a), the United States shall not be liable for any death, injury, loss, or damage that results from any use of such aircraft by any person other than the United States.

(i) Applicable law

The transfer and use of the aircraft under subsection (a) is subject to all applicable Federal and State laws and regulations, including—

(a) Prohibition

The Secretary of Defense may not destroy, dismantle, scrap, cannibalize, or otherwise render permanently inoperable any aircraft that—

(b) Authorized dispositions

Aircraft described in subsection (a) may only be—

(c) Waiver authority

The Secretary of Defense may waive the prohibition under subsection (a) on a case-by-case basis only if—

(d) Definitions

In this section:

(a) Authority for block buy contract

Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purposes, the Secretary of the Navy may procure twelve or more E–2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft during fiscal years 2027 through 2029 by entering into one block buy contract.

(b) Advance procurement and economic order quantities

The Secretary of the Navy may enter into one or more contracts, beginning in fiscal year 2027, for advance procurement and economic order quantities of components and material associated with the aircraft for which authorization to enter into a block buy contract is provided under subsection (a).

(c) Liability

Any contract entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that—

(a) In general

Subsection (i) of section 9062 of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

(i)

(1)

The Secretary of the Air Force shall—

(A)

during the period beginning on October 1, 2026, and ending on October 1, 2035, maintain a total aircraft inventory of fighter aircraft of not less than 1,800 aircraft; and

(B)

maintain a total aircraft inventory of combat-coded fighter aircraft of not less than 1,369 aircraft by December 31, 2030.

(2)

In this subsection:

(A)

The term attrition reserve means aircraft procured and held specifically to replace anticipated aircraft losses resulting from peacetime accidents (mishaps) or wartime attrition.

(B)

The term backup aircraft inventory means aircraft authorized in addition to the primary mission aircraft inventory to allow for scheduled and unscheduled depot-level maintenance, modifications, inspections, and repair without reducing the combat-ready fleet.

(C)

The term combat-coded with respect to an aircraft means an aircraft that is—

(i)

assigned to a combat-designated operational squadron or unit for the performance of its wartime mission;

(ii)

formally categorized within the Department of the Air Force inventory management system as primary mission aircraft inventory, backup aircraft inventory, or attrition reserve; and

(iii)

resourced and maintained to provide immediate operational capacity and the necessary organic depth required to sustain combat mission effectiveness through modernization cycles, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, and combat attrition.

(D)

The term fighter aircraft—

(i)

means an aircraft that—

(I)

is designated by a mission design series prefix of F– or A–;

(II)

is manned by one or two crewmembers; and

(III)

executes single-role or multi-role missions, including air-to-air combat, air-to-ground attack, air interdiction, suppression or destruction of enemy air defenses, close air support, strike control and reconnaissance, combat search and rescue support, or airborne forward air control; and

(ii)

does not include collaborative combat aircraft.

(E)

The term primary mission aircraft inventory means aircraft assigned to meet the primary aircraft authorization to a unit for the performance of its wartime mission.

(b) Effective date

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2026.

(a) Multiyear procurement authority

Subject to section 3501 of title 10, United States Code, except as provided in this section, the Secretary of Defense may enter into one or more multiyear contracts for the procurement of F–35A, F–35B, and F–35C aircraft.

(b) Findings requirements

(c) Advance procurement

(a) Multiyear procurement authority

Subject to section 3501 of title 10, United States Code, except as provided in this section, the Secretary of Defense may enter into one or more multiyear contracts for the procurement of F–15EX aircraft.

(b) Findings requirements

(c) Certification

The Secretary of Defense may not exercise the authority provided by subsection (a) until the Secretary submits to Congress a certification that the contractor concerned has the ability to increase production to achieve the objective inventory goal of not less than 268 F–15EX aircraft by 2035.

(d) Advance procurement

(a) Limitation on divestment

(b) Minimum inventory requirement

(c) Analysis of alternatives

(d) Report and briefing

Not later than December 1, 2027, the Secretary of the Air Force shall—

(a) In general

Not later than January 1, 2027, the Secretary of the Air Force, in coordination with the Commander of the United States Transportation Command and in consultation with the commanders of the geographic combatant commands, shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report that includes a comprehensive and detailed strategic plan for the development, acquisition, modernization, and integration of total force mobility capabilities of the Department of Defense through fiscal year 2047.

(b) Elements

The plan required by subsection (a) shall include each of the following:

(c) Form

The plan required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.

(a) Extension of minimum inventory requirement

Section 146(a)(3)(B) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 2455), as most recently amended by section 145(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (Public Law 119–60; 139 Stat. 760), is further amended by striking 2026 and inserting 2028.

(b) Extension of prohibition on reduction of C–130 aircraft assigned to National Guard

Section 146(b)(1) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 2455), as most recently amended by section 145(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (Public Law 119–60; 139 Stat. 760), is further amended by striking 2026 and inserting 2028.

(a) In general

The Secretary of Defense shall, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and in coordination with secretaries of the military departments and the Director of the Missile Defense Agency, as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate, develop, test, evaluate, demonstrate, and transition to production a portfolio of alternative, affordable, low-cost weapon systems in each of the following categories:

(b) Requirements

Programs carried out under paragraph (1) shall—

(c) Definitions

In this section:

(1)

paragraph (1), by striking Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and inserting Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering;

(2)

in paragraph (2), by striking Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and inserting Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering;

(3)

in paragraph (4)—

(4)

in paragraph (6), in the matter before subparagraph (A), by inserting until December 31, 2035 after this Act.

(a) In general

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall promulgate a modified and streamlined process for developing, negotiating and concluding international agreements relating to science and technology cooperation, including memoranda of understanding and project agreements.

(b) Elements

The process promulgated under subsection (a) shall—

(a) Limitation

Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2027 for containerized instrumentation programs of the Test Resource Management Center, not more than 75 percent may be obligated or expended until the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, in consultation with the Director of the Test Resource Management Center and the Secretaries of the military departments, submits to the congressional defense committees the report described in subsection (b).

(b) Report on common architecture for unmanned maritime test instrumentation

(c) Definition of containerized instrumentation program

In this section, the term containerized instrumentation program means any program of the Test Resource Management Center that primarily relies on packaging test and evaluation instrumentation in roll-on and roll-off shipping containers for deployment on manned vessels, including—

(a) Limitation

Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2027 for Integrated Combat Systems of the Department of the Navy, not more than 75 percent may be obligated or expended until the date on which the Secretary of the Navy submits to the congressional defense committees the certification required by subsection (c).

(b) Installation and demonstration

The Secretary of the Navy shall install and demonstrate, aboard one or more destroyers, an operational prototype of the warfighting data ecosystem that includes—

(c) Certification

After completion of the installation and demonstration required by subsection (b), the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the congressional defense committees a certification that the Secretary has installed and demonstrated the operational prototype of the warfighting data ecosystem as required by subsection (b).

(1)

The strategy and plan required by section 236(e) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 10 U.S.C. 4001 note).

(2)

The report on Gaming, exercising, modeling, and simulation to support great power competition requested in Senate report 117–130 accompanying the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263).

(a) In general

Chapter 305 of title 10, United States Code is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

4146. Department of Defense Research Security Program

(a) Program established

The Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation with such other government organizations as the Secretary considers appropriate, establish a program to work with institutions of higher education that perform fundamental basic research activities—

(1)

to support protection of intellectual property, controlled information, key personnel, and information about critical technologies relevant to national security;

(2)

to limit undue influence, including through foreign talent programs, by countries to exploit United States technology within the Department of Defense research, science and technology, and innovation enterprise;

(3)

to support efforts toward development of domestic talent in relevant scientific and engineering fields; and

(4)

to prepare United States students studying abroad through the National Security Education Program of the Department or other similar undergraduate or post-graduate programs to recognize and protect themselves against recruitment or exploitation efforts by agents of a foreign power (as defined in section 101 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801)).

(b) Institutions and organizations

(1) In general

The program required by subsection (a) shall be developed and executed to the maximum extent practicable with institutions of higher education and other educational and research organizations conducting fundamental basic research for the Department of Defense, and aligned to the maximum extent practicable with similar efforts across the Federal Government.

(2) Record of excellence

In selecting institutions of higher education under this subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize selection of institutions of higher education that the Secretary determines demonstrate a record of excellence in industrial security in academia and in research and development.

(c) Requirements

The program required by subsection (a) shall include development of the following:

(1)

Information exchange fora and information repositories to enable awareness of security threats and influence operations being executed against the United States research, technology, and innovation enterprise, including support coordinating relevant elements of the Department of Defense and the rest of the Federal Government.

(2)

Training and other support for institutions of higher education to promote security and limit undue influence on institutions and personnel, including financial support for execution for such activities.

(3)

The capacity of government and academic institutions and institutions of higher education to assess whether individuals affiliated with Department of Defense programs have participated in or are currently participating in foreign talent programs or expert recruitment programs, or are otherwise being targeted for exploitation by an agent of a foreign power.

(4)

Opportunities to collaborate with defense researchers and research organizations in secure facilities to promote protection of critical information and strengthen defense against agents of foreign powers.

(5)

Regulations and procedures—

(A)

for government and academic organizations and personnel to support the goals of the program; and

(B)

that are consistent with policies that protect open and scientific exchange in fundamental research and coordinated to the maximum extent practicable with similar efforts across the Federal Government.

(6)

Policies to limit or prohibit funding provided by the Department of Defense for institutions of higher education or individual researchers who knowingly violate regulations developed under the program, including regulations relating to foreign talent programs.

(7)

Policies to limit or prohibit funding provided by the Department of Defense for institutions of higher education or individual researchers who knowingly conduct joint research activities or projects, co-author scholarly publications, technical reports, or research outputs, contract, or make other financial arrangements with entities or individuals employed by such entities in the list described in paragraph (9), which policies shall include—

(A)

use of such list as part of a risk assessment decision matrix during proposal evaluations, including the development of a question for proposers or broad area announcements that require proposers to disclose any joint research activities or projects, co-authored scholarly publications, technical reports, research outputs, or contractual or financial connections with such entities or individuals employed by such entities;

(B)

a requirement that the Department shall notify a proposer of suspected noncompliance with a policy issued under this paragraph and provide not less than 30 days to take actions to remedy such noncompliance;

(C)

the establishment of an appeals procedure under which a proposer may appeal a negative decision on a proposal if the decision is based on a determination informed by such list;

(D)

a requirement that each awardee of funding provided by the Department shall disclose to the Department any joint research activities or projects, co-authored scholarly publications, technical reports, research outputs, contract, or financial arrangement made with such an entity or individual employed by such entity during the period of the award; and

(E)

a requirement that each awardee of funding provided by the Department shall provide to the Department an annual certification of compliance with policies promulgated pursuant to this paragraph.

(8)

Initiatives to support the transition of the results of academic institution research programs into defense capabilities.

(9)

(A)

A list of entities of the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, and other countries that—

(i)

have a history of improper technology transfer, intellectual property theft, or cyber or human espionage;

(ii)

operate under the direction of the armed forces or intelligence agency of the applicable country;

(iii)

are known—

(I)

to recruit foreign individuals for the purpose of transferring knowledge to advance military or intelligence efforts of a foreign government; or

(II)

to provide misleading information or otherwise attempt to conceal the connections of an individual or institution to a defense or an intelligence agency of the applicable country;

(iv)

pose a serious risk of improper technology transfer of data, technology, or research that is not published or publicly available; or

(v)

are on any of the following lists:

(I)

Any of the following lists maintained by the Bureau of Industry and Security of th Department of Commerce:

(aa)

The Entity List set forth in Supplement No. 4 to part 744 of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations.

(bb)

The Universal List set forth in Supplement No. 6 of part 744 of that title.

(cc)

The Military-End User List set forth in Supplement No. 7 to part 744 of that title.

(dd)

The Denied Persons List maintained pursuant to section 764.3(a)(2) of that title.

(II)

The list of specially designed nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Asserts Control of the Department of the Treasury (commonly referred to as the SDN list).

(III)

The list of Chinese military companies operating in the United States required by section 1260H of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 10 U.S.C. 113 note).

(IV)

The lists of debarred parties maintained by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls of the Department of State pursuant to section 38(g)(4)of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2778(g))(4).

(V)

The list of telecommunications companies of the People’s Republic of China described in section 889(f)(3) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorizations Act of 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 41 U.S.C. 3901 note prec.).

(VI)

The list of semiconductor companies of the People’s Republic of China described in section 5949(i)(3) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 41 U.S.C. 4713 note).

(VII)

The list of biotechnology companies of concern maintained under section 851(f) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (Public Law 119–60; 41 U.S.C. 3901 note prec.).

(VIII)

The list of entities that produce or provide communications equipment or service on the list published by the Federal Communications Commission under section 2(a) of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 1601(a)).

(IX)

A list maintained under clause (i), (ii), (iv), or (v) of section 2(d)(2)(B) of the Act entitled An Act to ensure that the goods made with forced labor in Xinjiang Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China do not enter the United States market, and for other purposes(Public Law 117–18; 22 U.S.C. 6901 note), approved December 23, 2021 (commonly referred to as the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act).

(B)

The list described in subparagraph (A) shall be developed and continuously updated in consultation with the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department of Commerce, the Director of National Intelligence, United States institutions of higher education that conduct significant Department of Defense research or engineering activities, and other appropriate individuals and organizations.

(10)

(A)

A list, developed and continuously updated in consultation with the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and such Government agencies as the Secretary considers appropriate, of foreign talent programs that the Secretary determines pose a threat to the national security interests of the United States.

(B)

In developing and updating such list, the Secretary shall consider—

(i)

the extent to which a foreign talent program or an agent of a foreign power—

(I)

poses a threat to research funded by the Department of Defense; and

(II)

engages in, or facilitates, cyber attacks, theft, espionage, attempts to gain ownership of or influence over companies, or otherwise interferes in the affairs of the United States; and

(ii)

any other factor the Secretary considers appropriate.

(11)

Development of measures of effectiveness and performance to assess and track progress of the Department of Defense across the program, which measures shall include—

(A)

the evaluation of currently available data to support the assessment of such measures, including the identification of areas in which gaps exist that may require collection of completely new data, or modifications to existing data sets;

(B)

current means and methods for the collection of data in an automated manner, including the identification of areas in which gaps exist that may require new means for data collection or visualization of such data; and

(C)

the development of an analysis and assessment methodology framework to make tradeoffs between the measures developed under this paragraph and other metrics related to assessing undue foreign influence on the Department of Defense research enterprise, such as commercial due diligence, beneficial ownership, and foreign ownership, control, and influence.

(d) Annual reviews required

Not later than March 30, 2025, and each March 30 thereafter until December 31, 2040—

(1)

each head of a Department of Defense component that awards grants for research shall carry out a review of a representative sample of the research grants awarded by the respective component in the previous fiscal year to ensure that the component is awarding grants in compliance with the applicable policies of the Department; and

(2)

the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall carry out a separate review of a representative sample of the research grants awarded by such components in the previous fiscal year.

(e) Procedures for enhanced information sharing

(1) Collection of information

(A)

Not later than October 1, 2020, for the purpose of maintaining appropriate security controls over research activities, technical information, and intellectual property, the Secretary shall, in conjunction with such public and private entities as the Secretary considers appropriate, establish streamlined procedures to collect appropriate information relating to individuals, including United States citizens and foreign nationals, who participate in defense research and development activities.

(B)

With respect to fundamental research programs, the academic liaison designated under subsection (h) shall establish policies and procedures to collect, consistent with the best practices of Government agencies that fund academic research, appropriate information relating to individuals who participate in fundamental research programs.

(2) Protection from release

The procedures required by paragraph (1) shall include procedures to protect such information from release, consistent with applicable regulations.

(3) Reporting to government information systems and repositories

The procedures required by paragraph (1) may include procedures developed, in coordination with such public and private entities as the Secretary considers appropriate, to report such information to existing Government information systems and repositories.

(f) Periodic reports

(1) In general

Not later than March 30, 2027, and not later than March 30 of each year thereafter until December 31, 2040, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the activities carried out under the program required by subsection (a), the periodic reviews conducted pursuant to subsection (d), and the waivers issued under section 4147 of this title.

(2) Contents

Each report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A)

A description of the activities conducted and the progress made under the program.

(B)

With respect to the periodic reviews conducted pursuant to subsection (d), the following:

(i)

The total number of research grants awarded by the Department in the fiscal year covered by the reviews.

(ii)

The number of reviews carried out pursuant to subsection (d)(1).

(iii)

The number of reviews carried out pursuant to subsection (d)(2).

(iv)

A description of the processes by which the heads of the components described in paragraph (1) of subsection (d) and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering conducted the reviews under such subsection.

(v)

An assessment of issues identified during the reviews carried out under subsection (d), including a list of grants that were identified as having not been awarded in compliance with applicable policies of the Department of Defense.

(C)

The findings of the Secretary with respect to the program.

(D)

Such recommendations as the Secretary may have for legislative or administrative action relating to the matters described in subsection (a), including actions relating to foreign talent programs.

(E)

Identification and discussion of the gaps in legal authorities that need to be improve to enhance the security of research institutions of higher education performing defense research.

(F)

A description of the actions taken by such institutions to comply with such best practices and guidelines as may be established by under the program.

(G)

A description of the status of the measures of effectiveness and performance described in subsection (c)(11) for the period covered by such report, including an analytical assessment of the impact of such measures on the goals of the program.

(H)

With respect to waivers described in paragraph (1), the following:

(i)

The terms and contents of any waivers issued under section 4147 of this title in the period covered by the report;

(ii)

any trends in—

(I)

the number of waivers issued under such section over time; and

(II)

the types of contracts to which such waivers pertain; and

(iii)

the processes used by the Secretary to verify that covered institutions (as defined in such section) are in compliance with the requirements of such section.

(3) Form

The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

(g) Publication of updated lists

(1) Submittal to Congress

Not later than January 1, 2021, and annually thereafter until December 31, 2032, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees the most recently updated lists described in paragraphs (9) and (10) of subsection (c).

(2) Form

Each list submitted under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

(3) Public availability

Each list submitted under paragraph (1) shall be published on a publicly accessible website of the Department of Defense in a searchable format.

(4) Intervening submittal and publication

The Secretary may submit and publish an updated list described in paragraph (1) more frequently than required by that paragraph, as the Secretary considers necessary.

(h) Designation of academic liaison

(1) In general

The Secretary shall, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, designate an academic liaison with principal responsibility for working with the academic and research communities to protect Department-sponsored academic research of concern from undue foreign influence and threats.

(2) Qualification

The Secretary shall designate an individual under paragraph (1) who is an official of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering with experience—

(A)

working in security, counterintelligence, or academic research environments; and

(B)

with complex managerial tasks.

(3) Duties

The duties of the academic liaison designated under paragraph (1) shall be as follows:

(A)

To serve as the liaison of the Department with the academic and research communities.

(B)

To execute initiatives of the Department relating to the protection of Department-sponsored academic research of concern from undue foreign influence and threats, including the program required by subsection (a).

(C)

To conduct outreach and education activities for the academic and research communities on undue foreign influence and threats to Department-sponsored academic research of concern.

(D)

To coordinate and align academic security policies with Department component agencies, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the intelligence community, and such Federal agencies as the Secretary considers appropriate.

(E)

To the extent practicable, to coordinate with the intelligence community to share, not less frequently than annually, with the academic and research communities unclassified information, including counterintelligence information, on threats from undue foreign influence.

(F)

Any other related responsibility, as determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.

(i) Designation of chief research security officers

(1) In general

Each institution of higher education that receives Department of Defense funding and more than $50,000,000 in total Federal research funding annually shall designate at least one senior official to serve as the institution’s Chief Research Security Officer.

(2) Qualifications and duties

Each Chief Research Security Officer designated under (h) shall—

(A)

be a Vice President for Research, Chief Research Officer, or another designated senior official at the institution with responsibility for research administration, compliance, or institutional security, as determined appropriate by the institution; and

(B)

serve as the principal institutional officer and primary point of contact with the Department of Defense, and other appropriate Federal authorities on matters relating to research security associated with Department of Defense–funded research, including undue foreign influence, cybersecurity pertaining to such research, insider risk, and related threats.

(3) Eligibility for department of defense security clearances and training

(A)

The Chief Research Security Officer shall be eligible for sponsorship for an appropriate personnel security clearance for purposes of Department of Defense–funded research security, as determined by the Secretary of Defense.

(B)

The Secretary of Defense, acting through the appropriate Department of Defense security and counterintelligence authorities, and in coordination with other appropriate Federal intelligence agencies, shall establish processes—

(i)

to facilitate the sponsorship, adjudication, and issuance of appropriate personnel security clearances for Chief Research Security Officers, including through Department of Defense security clearance processes;

(ii)

to provide threat-related training, briefings, and information, including classified briefings as appropriate, related to risks to Department of Defense-funded research; and

(iii)

to ensure that information shared is relevant, timely, and provided solely for defensive, awareness, and protective purposes.

(4) Scope and limitations

(A)

Information shared pursuant to this section shall be limited to information necessary to protect Department of Defense–funded research and associated research activities.

(B)

Nothing in this section shall be construed—

(i)

to require institutions of higher education to conduct classified research;

(ii)

to reclassify or otherwise restrict fundamental research;

(iii)

to impose new export control, classification, or security requirements on research that is otherwise unrestricted under applicable law or policy; or

(iv)

to infringe upon academic freedom, freedom of expression, or other lawful academic activities.

(5) Alignment with existing department of defense research security requirements

The requirements of this section shall be implemented consistent with Department of Defense research security policies and programs, including National Security Presidential Memorandum–33 (relating to supported research and development national policy), issued January 2021, applicable Department of Defense directives and instructions, and guidance issued by the Office of Science and Technology Policy, as relevant to Department of Defense-funded research.

(j) Definitions

In this section:

(1)

The term agent of a foreign power has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801).

(2)

The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

(3)

The term intelligence community has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003).

4147. Prohibition on contracts between certain foreign entities and institutions of higher education conducting Department of Defense-funded research

(a) Prohibition

Beginning on January 1, 2028, a covered institution may not enter into a contract with a covered nation or a foreign entity of concern.

(b) Waivers

(1) Authority

Subject to the provisions of this subsection and subsection (c), the Secretary of Defense may, pursuant to a request submitted under paragraph (2) of this subsection, issue a waiver of the prohibition set forth in subsection (a).

(2) Submission

(A)

(i)

A covered institution that desires to enter into a contract with a foreign entity of concern or a covered nation may submit to the Secretary of Defense, not later than 120 days before the institution enters into such a contract, a request to waive the prohibition set forth in subsection (a) with respect to such contract.

(ii)

A waiver request submitted by a covered institution under clause (i) shall include—

(I)

the complete and unredacted text of the proposed contract for which the waiver is being requested, and if such original contract is not in English, a translated copy of the text into English (in a manner that complies with subsection (e)); and

(II)

a statement that—

(aa)

is signed by the President or compliance officer of the institution designated in accordance with subsection (f); and

(bb)

includes information that demonstrates that such contract is for the benefit of the institution’s mission and students and will promote the security, stability, and economic vitality of the United States.

(B)

(i)

A covered institution that has entered into a contract pursuant to a waiver issued under this section, the term of which is longer than the 1-year waiver period and the terms and conditions of which remain the same as the proposed contract submitted as part of the request for such waiver, may submit, not later than 120 days before the expiration of such waiver period, a request for a renewal of such waiver for the remainder of the contract term, but not to exceed a 4-year period (which shall include any information requested by the Secretary).

(ii)

If a covered institution fails to submit a request under clause (i) or is not granted a renewal under such clause, such institution shall terminate such contract on the last day of the original 1-year waiver period.

(3) Waiver issuance

The Secretary of Defense—

(A)

not later than 60 days before a covered institution enters into a contract pursuant to a waiver request under paragraph (2)(A), or before a contract described in paragraph (2)(B)(i) is renewed pursuant to a renewal request under such paragraph, shall notify the covered institution—

(i)

if the waiver or renewal will be issued by the Secretary; and

(ii)

in a case in which the waiver or renewal will be issued, the date on which the 1-year waiver period starts;

(B)

may only issue a waiver under this subsection to a covered institution if the Secretary of Defense determines that the contract for which the waiver is being requested will both—

(i)

benefit the institution’s mission and students; and

(ii)

promote the security, stability, and economic vitality of the United States; and

(C)

shall, when making the determination described in subparagraph (B)(ii), base such determination on the following factors:

(i)

The reasons for which the foreign entity of concern or covered nation has been so designated, and why those reasons do not apply to the contract for which waiver is being sought.

(ii)

The foreign entity of concern or covered nation’s history of involvement with covered institutions.

(iii)

The degree to which such a contract could provide access to information or technology which could materially benefit the national security of a covered nation or harm the national security of the United States.

(4) Notification to Congress

Not later than 15 calendar days prior to issuing a waiver under this subsection, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives written notice of the intent of the Secretary to issue such waiver together with a justification for such waiver.

(5) Application of waivers

A waiver issued under this subsection to a covered institution with respect to a contract shall only—

(A)

waive the prohibition under subsection (a) for a 1-year period, or for the remainder of the term of the contract, but not to exceed 4 years; and

(B)

apply to the terms and conditions of the proposed contract submitted as part of the request for such waiver.

(c) Contracts prior to date of enactment

(1) In general

In the case of a covered institution that entered into contract with a covered nation or foreign entity of concern prior to January 1, 2028, and which contract remains in effect on such date, the Secretary shall notify the congressional defense committees within 90 days of enactment of this section.

(2) Renewal

A covered institution that has entered into a contract described in paragraph (1), the term of which is longer than the waiver period described in subparagraph (B) of such paragraph and the terms and conditions of which remain the same as the contract submitted as part of the request required under subparagraph (A) of such paragraph, may submit a request for renewal of the waiver issued under such paragraph in accordance with subsection (c)(2)(B).

(d) Designation during contract term

In the case of a covered institution that enters into a contract with a foreign source that is not a covered nation or a foreign entity of concern but which, during the term of such contract, is redesignated as a covered nation or foreign entity of concern, such institution shall terminate such contract not later than 120 days after the Secretary notifies the covered institution of such designation or immediately requests a waiver.

(e) Translation requirement

Any information required to be disclosed under this section with respect to a contract that is not in English shall be translated, for purposes of such disclosure, by a person that is not an affiliated entity or agent of the covered nation or foreign entity of concern involved with such contract.

(f) Compliance officer

Each covered institution applying for a waiver under subsection (c), shall identify a compliance officer, who shall—

(1)

be a current employee or legally authorized agent of such institution; and

(2)

be responsible, on behalf of such institution, for personally certifying—

(A)

compliance with the prohibition under this section; and

(B)

the truth and accuracy of any information contained in such a waiver request.

(g) Definitions

In this section:

(1)

(A)

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term contract means—

(i)

any agreement or memorandum of understanding for the acquisition, by purchase, lease, or barter, of property or services by or from a covered nation or foreign entity of concern; or

(ii)

any affiliation, agreement, or similar transaction with a covered nation or foreign entity of concern that involves the use or exchange of the name, likeness, time, services, or resources of a covered institution.

(B)

The term contract does not include—

(i)

an agreement solely or primarily for the purposes of conducting a study-abroad program wherein students at covered institutions in the United States travel to a covered nation to study;

(ii)

short-term, ancillary agreements such as employment contracts for visiting professorships or sponsored travel or visas of foreign nationals employed by institutions of higher education, excluding those affiliated with foreign entities of concern;

(iii)

an arms-length agreement for the acquisition by purchase, lease, or barter of property or services for the covered institution from a foreign entity of concern; or

(iv)

an agreement pertaining to a pre-existing campus or other satellite facility of a covered institution located in a covered nation or a joint facility of a covered institution and another entity located in a covered nation, including assignment or license of a trademark or copyright related to the name, likeness, mascot or similar image, unless that facility could provide access to information or technology which could materially benefit the national security of a covered nation or harm the national security of the United States.

(2)

The term covered institution means an institution of higher education that conducts research funded by the Department of Defense.

(3)

The term covered nation has the meaning given that term in section 4872(d) of this title.

(4)

The term foreign entity of concern means any person or entity on any of the following lists:

(A)

Any of the following lists maintained by the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department of Commerce:

(i)

The Entity List set forth in Supplement No. 4 to part 744 of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations.

(ii)

The Unverified List set forth in Supplement No. 6 part 744 of that title.

(iii)

The Military End-User List set forth in Supplement No. 7 to part 744 of that title.

(iv)

The Denied Persons List maintained pursuant to section 764.3(a)(2) of that title.

(B)

The list of specifically designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of Treasury (commonly referred to as the SDN list).

(C)

The list of Chinese military companies operating in the United States required by section 1260H of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 10 U.S.C. 113 note).

(D)

The lists of debarred parties maintained by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls of the Department of State pursuant to section 38(g)(4)of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2778(g)(4)).

(E)

The list of telecommunications companies of the People’s Republic of China described in section 889(f)(3) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorizations Act of 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 41 U.S.C. 3901 note prec.).

(F)

The list of semiconductor companies of the People’s Republic of China described in section 5949(i)(3) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year2023 (Public Law 117–263; 41 U.S.C. 4713 note).

(G)

The list of biotechnology companies of concern maintained under section 851(f) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (Public Law 119–60; 41 U.S.C. 3901 note prec.).

(H)

The list of entities that produce or provide communications equipment or service on the list published by the Federal Communications Commission under section 2(a) of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 1601(a)).

(I)

A list maintained under clause (i), (ii), (iv), or (v) of section 2(d)(2)(B) of the Act entitled An Act to ensure that the goods made with forced labor in Xinjiang Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China d o not enter the United States market, and for other purposes, approved December 23, 2021 (Public Law 117–18; 22 U.S.C. 6901 note) (commonly referred to as the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act).

(5)

The term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).

(b) Conforming repeals

The following sections are hereby repealed:

(c) Conforming amendment

Section 1062(b)(2) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 10 U.S.C. 2241 note) is amended by striking subsection (g) of section 1286 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (10 U.S.C. 2358 note), as amended by section 1299C of this Act, and inserting section 4146(h) of title 10, United States Code,.

(a) Alternative programs required

The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall explore, establish, and carry out efforts to increase the inventory of air defense interceptors by pursuing each of the following pathways:

(b) Report required

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report describing—

(a) Framework required

Not later than June 15, 2027, the Secretary of Defense shall, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, develop a framework for assessing the development or acquisition of future quantum computing systems, algorithms, or hybrid-quantum computing services informed by the practices developed under the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative.

(b) Requirements

In developing the framework required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall leverage the work products, insights, and lessons learned from the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative to help programs, technical developers, or source selection evaluators assess the following:

(c) Issuance of policy guidance

Not later than December 1, 2027, the Secretary shall issue policy guidance to the Department regarding the use of the assessment framework required under subsection (a).

(a) Program of record determination

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a determination confirming whether the Additive Manufacturing for Rocket Propellant systems should be formally established as a program of record.

(b) Briefing requirement

Not later than April 15, 2027, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a briefing on Army efforts relating to Additive Manufacturing for Rocket Propellant systems, including its procurement funding, and integration strategies.

(a) In general

Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the implications of emerging technologies to support Department of Defense cognitive warfare.

(b) Contents

The report submitted pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the following:

(a) Agreement

(b) Study

Under an agreement between the Secretary and an organization under subsection (a), the organization shall carry out a comprehensive study analyzing current and future electronics requirements for defense systems, with particular emphasis on electronic warfare capabilities and semiconductor packaging solutions.

(c) Elements

The study carried out under subsection (b) shall include the following:

(d) Report

(1)

in subsection (b)(1), by striking The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment and inserting The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs; and

(2)

in subsection (c), by striking The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs and inserting The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment.

(1)

by redesignating paragraphs (9) through (13) as paragraphs (10) through (14), respectively; and

(2)

by inserting after paragraph (8) the following new paragraph (9):

(9)

The value of establishing operational redundancy in both the primary procurement sourcing of energy and the specific physical categories of energy utilized to support critical mission infrastructure, ensuring the continuous availability of independent baseload generation capacities in the event of commercial or regional utility disruption.

(a) Requirements

The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that any enhanced use lease executed, extended, or renewed under section 2667 and 2662 of title 10, United States Code, for purposes of infrastructure, facility modernization, or energy production of the Department of Defense shall include a comprehensive, formalized assessment of localized grid impacts and infrastructure power demands.

(b) Elements of assessment

The assessment required under subsection (a) shall explicitly document and discuss the following:

(a) Plan required

(b) Congressional submission

(a) In general

Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Commander of the United States Transportation Command and the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a comprehensive assessment of the current status, sourcing, and security of all forms of energy supplied to installations and operational forces of the Department of Defense.

(b) Elements of assessment

The assessment required under subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, the following:

(1)

in subsection (b)(2), by striking removal and inserting remedial;

(2)

by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d);

(3)

by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c):

(c) Notice of updates to dashboard

Not less frequently than semiannually, the Secretary shall provide prompt notice to regional offices of the Environmental Protection Agency, appropriate State and local authorities, restoration advisory boards established under section 2705(d) of title 10, United States Code, and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives of updates to the dashboard under subsection (b).; and

(4)

in subsection (d)(1), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by striking removal,.

(a) In general

The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study evaluating the cleanup and acquisition processes used by the Department of Defense as of the date of the enactment of this Act relating to remediation of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances resulting from activities of the Department of Defense.

(b) Elements

In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall assess—

(c) Briefing

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall brief the congressional defense committees on the study conducted under subsection (a), with a report to follow at a mutually agreed upon time.

(a) Initiation of remedial actions

(b) Timely completion of ongoing actions

The Secretary shall ensure the timely completion of interim remedial actions at installations of the Department of Defense that are ongoing as of the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c) Covered site defined

In this section, the term covered site—

(a) Implementation plan

(b) Implementation report

Not later than one year after submission by the Secretary concerned of the plan under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall carry out activities to implement the plan and provide a report to the congressional defense committees and the Comptroller General of the United States on the following:

(c) Secretary concerned defined

In this section, the term Secretary concerned means—

(a) In general

The Secretary of the Army, in coordination with the heads of relevant organizations of the Department of Defense, shall develop a plan for integrating unmanned aerial systems into the Installation Physical Security Program to expand physical security monitoring capabilities for installations and facilities of the Department of the Army within the United States.

(b) Elements

The plan required by subsection (a) shall include the following:

(c) Submittal to Congress

Not later than September 1, 2027, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a completed version of the plan developed under subsection (a).

(a) In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall establish and publish guidance regarding updated governance of the organic industrial base of the Army.

(b) Elements of guidance

The guidance required under subsection (a) shall do the following:

(c) Organic industrial base of the Army defined

In this section, the term organic industrial base of the Army means the arsenals, ammunition plants, activities, and depots of the Army.

(a) In general

The Secretary of Defense shall establish an acquisition and sustainment strategy for aircraft spare parts, applicable to any covered aircraft platform, to maximize competition and expand the defense industrial base supply chain for sustainment.

(b) Diminishing manufacturing sources

In carrying out the strategy established under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall—

(c) Procurement

In carrying out the strategy established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall competitively source spare parts identified under subsection (b) by enabling the use of—

(d) Report

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for three years, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes—

(e) Covered aircraft platform defined

In this section, the term covered aircraft platform means any fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft operated by the Department of Defense with—

(a) Provision of rotary wing assets

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall ensure that a sufficient quantity of rotary wing assets, including air and maintenance crews, spares and support equipment, and any other mission critical personnel or material, necessary to support all planned test events, installation maintenance requirements, and personnel movement or evacuation contingencies are located on Kwajalein Atoll and available for mission support and tasking by the Army at Kwajalein Atoll and the Ronald Reagan Space and Missile Test Range, Marshall Islands.

(b) Requirement fulfillment options

To implement the requirements under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Army may—

(c) Long term capability sustainment plan

(a) Write-offs

With respect to any depot or arsenal of the Department of Defense, the Secretary of Defense may write-off or eliminate any internal Department accounting charges, such as remaining depreciation or internal debt from an account of a military department or the Department associated with capital assets that do not generate revenue due to mission realignments directed by the Federal Government.

(b) Recovery of revolving fund cash outlay

Any write-off conducted under subsection (a) shall be done in a manner such that any previous revolving fund cash outlay is recovered.

(c) Application of authority

The authority under subsection (a) applies only to financial balances within the accounts of a military department or the Department of Defense, not to payments owned to commercial contractors.

(d) Delegation

The Secretary of Defense may delegate the authority under subsection (a) to the Secretary of a military department.

(1)

by striking The Secretary and inserting (a) In general.—The Secretary;

(2)

in subsection (a), as designated by paragraph (1), by striking , so far as those factories or arsenals can make those supplies on an economical basis and inserting when it is economical to do so; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(b) Certification To use other facilities

(1) In general

If the Secretary of the Army chooses to make munitions or weapons systems outside the organic industrial base of the Army, the Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, or any successor official, shall certify that—

(A)

the choice will not undermine the capacity of sites of the organic industrial base of the Army within the continental United States to produce munitions or weapons systems to meet requirements of the Department of Defense and foreign allies or partner nations of the United States;

(B)

due consideration was given to whether it was in the interest of ensuring adequate workloads at sites of the organic industrial base of the Army to establish the capability to produce the munition or weapons system at such a site;

(C)

preference was given to a production facility within the continental United States; and

(D)

a site in the organic industrial base of the Army was not deemed ineligible for production solely because the munition or weapons systems is not currently being made at the site and consideration was given to the feasibility of increasing capability at such a site to allow it to meet the production need.

(2) Explanation

If the Secretary of the Army cannot make the certification required under paragraph (1) with respect to a choice described in that paragraph, not later than 30 days before such choice is finalized, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the Secretary of Defense and the congressional defense committees an explanation for why such choice is in the interest of the national security of the United States.

(c) Definitions

In this section:

(1)

The term economical means providing a cost comparable to that of other viable production options while also—

(A)

efficiently and quickly meeting the needs of the Army and the Department of Defense; and

(B)

addressing the needs of the Army to effectively and efficiently balance workload across the organic industrial base of the Army to maintain the health of the organic industrial base.

(2)

The term organic industrial base of the Army means any operational arsenal, ammunition plant, activity, or depot of the Army.

(a) Report required

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the strategy of the Department of Defense to maintain and upgrade conventional munitions storage facilities (both in the continental United States and outside the continental United States) in order to ensure the safe, effective, and long-term storage of current and future conventional munitions inventories.

(b) Elements

The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:

(c) Form of report

The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex if necessary to protect sensitive operational or force-protection information.

(a) In general

The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a risk assessment to evaluate the air traffic control systems owned and operated by any entity of the Department of Defense and operated within the airspace of the United States and develop a modernization plan to update those systems.

(b) Elements

The assessment required by subsection (a) shall be comprehensive across all branches of the Armed Forces and shall—

(c) Submittal of assessment and plan

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees the assessment and plan required under subsection (a).

(d) Annual report

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report detailing the status of modernizing the air traffic control systems used by the Department.

(a) In general

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary of the Air Force shall implement each recommendation of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense contained in the report dated February 17, 2026, and entitled, Evaluation of the DoD Military Working Dog Program's Management of Canine Welfare (DODIG–2026–057).

(b) Non-implementation reporting requirement

If the Secretary of the Air Force elects to not implement a recommendation specified under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that includes a justification for such election.

(a) Prohibition Phase I

(b) Prohibition Phase II

(c) Implementation plan

(d) Notice

(e) Certification

The prohibitions under subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect only upon the submission by the Secretary of Defense of a certification to the congressional defense committees that the Department of Defense has—

(f) Notification if unable to certify

(g) Waiver

(h) Definitions

In this section:

(a) In general

Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2027 for operation and maintenance, defense-wide, and available for the Office of the Secretary of Defense for travel expenses, not more than 25 percent may be obligated or expended until the Secretary of Defense carries out the following:

(b) Reports required

(1)

the status of the West Lab Project at the Lincoln Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, including planning and construction timelines and milestones as of the date of the briefing;

(2)

the resources needed to complete the West Lab Project, disaggregated by phase of construction and fiscal year when funds are needed;

(3)

with respect to delays of the West Lab Project—

(4)

the plan of the Secretary of the Air Force to award a construction contract for the rest of the West Lab Project by not later than June 2027, with construction to be completed by June 2029.

(a) Naming of assets in Virginia

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act the Secretary of Defense shall implement the naming recommendations for assets of the Department of Defense in the Commonwealth of Virginia that were adopted by the Commission.

(b) Prohibition relating to overriding recommendations

The Secretary of Defense may not change the name of an asset described in subsection (a) to any name other than the name required under such subsection.

(c) Commission defined

In this section, the term Commission means the commission established under section 370(b) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 10 U.S.C. 113 note).

(a) In general

Section 183a of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(b) Applicability

With respect to a project described in subsection (h)(1) of section 183a of title 10, United States Code, for which the relevant notice, filing, or request for review was submitted before the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall comply with the requirements under such subsection by not later than the later of—

(1)

The Army, 469,000.

(2)

The Navy, 356,600.

(3)

The Marine Corps, 173,700.

(4)

The Air Force, 330,400.

(5)

The Space Force, 13,200.

(a) In general

The Armed Forces are authorized strengths for Selected Reserve personnel of the reserve components as of September 30, 2027, as follows:

(b) End strength reductions

The end strengths prescribed by subsection (a) for the Selected Reserve of any reserve component shall be proportionately reduced by—

(c) End strength increases

Whenever units or individual members of the Selected Reserve for any reserve component are released from active duty during any fiscal year, the end strength prescribed for such fiscal year for the Selected Reserve of such reserve component shall be increased proportionately by the total authorized strengths of such units and by the total number of such individual members.

(a) In general

Within the end strengths prescribed in section 411(a), the reserve components of the Armed Forces are authorized, as of September 30, 2027, the following number of Reserves to be serving on full-time active duty or full-time duty, in the case of members of the National Guard, for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the reserve components:

(b) Adherence to agreements with States

In executing these authorizations for fiscal year 2027, the Department of Defense—

(a) In general

The minimum number of military technicians (dual status) as of the last day of fiscal year 2027 for the reserve components of the Army and the Air Force (notwithstanding section 129 of title 10, United States Code) shall be the following:

(b) Limitation on number of temporary military technicians (dual status)

The number of temporary military technicians (dual status) employed under the authority of subsection (a) may not exceed 25 percent of the total authorized number specified in such subsection.

(c) Limitation

Under no circumstances may a military technician (dual status) employed under the authority of this section be coerced by a State into accepting an offer of realignment or conversion to any other military status, including as a member of the Active, Guard, and Reserve component. If a military technician (dual status) declines to participate in such realignment or conversion, no further action will be taken against the individual or the individual’s position.

(1)

The Army National Guard of the United States, 17,000.

(2)

The Army Reserve, 13,000.

(3)

The Navy Reserve, 6,200.

(4)

The Marine Corps Reserve, 3,000.

(5)

The Air National Guard of the United States, 16,000.

(6)

The Air Force Reserve, 14,000.

(a) Authorization of appropriations

Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2027 for the use of the Armed Forces and other activities and agencies of the Department of Defense for expenses, not otherwise provided for, for military personnel, as specified in the funding table in section 4401.

(b) Construction of authorization

The authorization of appropriations in the subsection (a) supersedes any other authorization of appropriations (definite or indefinite) for such purpose for fiscal year 2027.

(1)

in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following: “In the case of an officer whose promotion is delayed pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary of Defense shall notify the congressional defense committees of such delay not later than 30 days after the date on which the delay is imposed. Such notification shall include—

(A)

the reason for the delay, including a description of any adverse information or basis for concern;

(B)

the anticipated duration of the delay;

(C)

the status of any review or investigation associated with the delay; and

(D)

such other information as the Secretary considers appropriate.; and

(2)

in paragraph (4)(A), by striking , unless it is impracticable to give such written notice before the effective date of the appointment, in which case such written notice shall be given as soon as practicable.

(a) Authority

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary may temporarily withhold the forwarding or processing of an officer nomination or promotion recommendation for not more than 30 days.

(b) Disposition

Upon expiration of the period under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall—

(c) Extension and notification

Any withholding that exceeds 30 days shall be accompanied by written notification to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, including a detailed explanation of the basis for such continued withholding.

(d) Construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the President to remove an officer from a promotion list under section 629 of title 10, United States Code.

(a) Conditional retirements pending investigations, adverse actions, and other administrative actions

(b) Limitation on determinations of unsatisfactory service

(1)

in paragraph (3), by striking 33 years and inserting 35 years; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(4)

In the case of a regular Navy warrant officer in the grade of chief warrant officer, W–4, or a Marine Corps Marine Gunner warrant officer in such grade, the officer shall be retired 60 days after the date on which the officer completes 32 years of total active service.

(a) Appointment of professors of the United States Army War College

Section 7153(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(b) Appointments, grades, and leaves of absence for permanent professors of the United States Army War College

Chapter 723 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

7219. Permanent Military Professors of the United States Army War College: appointments, grades, and leaves of absence

(a) Appointments

The permanent military professors of the United States Army War College shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(b) Grades and promotions

A permanent military professor of the United States Army War College, who has served as such a professor for more than six years, has the grade of colonel. However, a permanent military professor appointed from the Regular Army has the grade of colonel after the date when the officer completes six years of service as a professor, or after the date on which the officer would have been promoted had the officer been selected for promotion from among officers in the promotion zone, whichever is earlier. All other permanent military professors have the grade of lieutenant colonel.

(c) Leaves of absence

The Commandant of the United States Army War College may grant a leave of absence for the period of the suspension of the ordinary academic studies, without deduction of pay or allowances, to a military professor, associate professor, assistant professor, instructor, or other officer of the United States Army War College.

(c) Rates of pay for permanent professors of the United States Army War College

Section 203 of title 37, United States Code, is amended by inserting the United States Army War College, after the United States Military Academy, both places it appears.

(d) Retirement of permanent professors

(1)

in subsection (a)(3)—

(2)

in subsection (b), by striking other than a student status and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting a capacity other than such officer’s participation in the service-approved program of advanced education.; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(d) Service-approved program defined

In this section, the term service-approved program means a service-approved educational delay of active duty, active guard and reserve, or selected reserve service for a graduate of a pre-commissioning program, including a Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps program, in order attend an advanced education program to obtain a professional degree that would be required for appointment, designation, or assignment to a professional specialty in such military service.

(a) Navy Reserve officers

Section 12011(a)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking the table and inserting the following:

Total number of members of Navy Reserve serving on full-time reserve component duty:	Number of officers who may be serving in the grade of:
	Lieutenant Command	Command	Captain
10,000	917	467	151
11,000	988	489	164
12,000	1,056	509	175
13,000	1,123	529	186
14,000	1,189	549	197
15,000	1,253	568	208
16,000	1,142	555	203
17,000	1,195	565	213
18,000	1,246	575	223
19,000	1,291	585	233
20,000	1,334	595	242
21,000	1,364	603	250
22,000	1,384	610	258
23,000	1,400	615	265
24,000	1,410	620	270

(b) Navy Reserve senior enlisted members

Section 12012(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking those parts of the table pertaining to the Navy Reserve and inserting the following:

Navy Reserve:
10,000	355	160
11,000	381	173
12,000	404	187
13,000	427	202
14,000	444	216
15,000	458	231
16,000	447	221
17,000	459	234
18,000	471	247
19,000	483	260
20,000	495	273
21,000	507	286
22,000	519	299
23,000	531	312
24,000	540	325

(c) Marine Corps Reserve senior enlisted members

Section 12012(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking those parts of the table pertaining to the Marine Corps Reserve and inserting the following:

Marine Corps Reserve:
1,100	68	18
1,200	75	20
1,300	81	21
1,400	87	23
1,500	93	24
1,600	99	26
1,700	106	28
1,800	112	29
1,900	118	31
2,000	124	33
2,100	130	34
2,200	137	36
2,300	143	37
2,400	149	39
2,500	155	41
2,600	161	42
2,700	168	44
2,800	174	46
2,900	180	47
3,000	186	49

(a) Conversion authority

Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary of Defense may convert a National Guard military technician (dual status) position filled by an individual employed under section 709 of title 32, United States Code, to either of the following:

(b) Transfer authority

In addition to the conversion authority under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense may, with agreement by the applicable State Governor, for the purpose of reducing the number of National Guard military technician (dual status) positions, provide a State with funding for a non-Federal position for an individual employed in such position. Any such funding shall be provided through a cooperative agreement entered into with the State Governor under section 6305 of title 31, United States Code.

(c) Consent of employee to conversion or transfer

The Secretary of Defense may not convert a position under subsection (a) or transfer a position under subsection (b) that is not vacant without the written consent of the individual filling the position being converted or transferred.

(d) Re-employment

An individual filling a military technician (dual status) position that is converted to Active Guard and Reserve duty under subsection (a)(2), waives any re-employment entitlement under section 4314 of title 38, United States Code, to another National Guard military technician (dual status) position but may assert re-employment rights to a civilian position employed under section 3101 of title 5, United States Code, or sections 1601, 1762, and 10508 of title 10, United States Code if a similar position is reasonably available.

(e) Adjustment to end strength requirements

(f) National Guard Bureau personnel

Section 10508(b)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting sections 1601 and 1762 of title 10, before or section 328 of title 32.

(g) Maintenance and repair duties

Section 328(b) of title 32, United States Code, is amended by inserting maintaining and repairing supplies issued to the National Guard or the Armed Forces, before and training the reserve components .

(h) Hiring freeze

Beginning on October 1, 2028, no individual may be newly hired or employed, or rehired or reemployed, as a National Guard military technician (dual status) under section 709 of title 32, United States Code.

(i) Termination of authority

Section 709 of title 32, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following subsection:

(k) Termination of authority

(1)

Subject to paragraph (2), this section shall cease to be in effect as of October 1, 2038.

(2)

The Secretary of Defense may, with agreement by the applicable State governor, authorize the continued employment of military technicians (dual status) to the extent necessary to ensure adequate State disaster response capabilities within such States.

(3)

The termination of authority under this subsection shall not affect the employment, rights, and benefits of individual employees who, as of such date, are within three years of earning an unreduced Federal civilian annuity.

(j) Military technician (dual status) end strengths

(k) Definition of military technician (dual status)

Section 10216(a)(1)(A) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking or section 709(b) of title 32 before the semicolon.

(l) Prohibition on use of Department of Defense funding for National Guard military technician (dual status) compensation

Subject to the provisions of section 709(k) of title 32, United States Code, funds appropriated for the Department of Defense may not be used for compensation of any individual employed as a National Guard military technician (dual status) after October 1, 2048.

(m) Definitions

In this section:

(a) Requirement

The Secretary of the Navy shall conduct a feasibility study and business case analysis to evaluate the requirements necessary to expand and optimize existing Navy Reserve maintenance programs, including the Navy Reserve Engineering Duty Officer (NR EDO) Program 29 and the SurgeMain program, to provide enhanced maritime surge maintenance, repair, and production capacity.

(b) Report

The Secretary of the Navy shall submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives of the results of the feasibility study and business case analysis required by subsection (a) not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, which addresses the following elements:

(c) Definition

In this section, the term SurgeMain program means the Navy Reserve Surge Maintenance program.

(a) Requirement for remote personnel processing

(b) Briefings

Not later than September 30, 2027, and annually thereafter through September 30, 2030, each Secretary of a military department shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the implementation of subsection (a), including—

(c) Definitions

In this subsection:

(1)

by striking paragraph (4); and

(2)

by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4).

(a) Guidance required

Not later than March 1, 2027, the Secretary of Defense shall issue or update guidance regarding the public release of personally identifiable information of members of the Armed Forces in administrative announcements made through official public affairs channels, including announcements related to command selections, promotion selections, and board results.

(b) Elements

The guidance required under subsection (a) shall—

(c) Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary of Defense or the Secretaries of the military departments to determine what information may be publicly released in accordance with applicable law and policy.

(a) Personnel limitation

Section 1559 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)(2)(A), by adding at the end the following new clauses:

(vi)

The conducting of, or a threat to order, a retaliatory security clearance review.

(vii)

The conducting of, or a threat to order, a retaliatory psychiatric examination, mental health evaluation, psychological assessment, or other medical testing or examination.;

(2)

by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (k); and

(3)

by inserting after subsection (i) the following new subsection:

(j) Inapplicability of nondisclosure agreements

No nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement shall be construed as limiting or otherwise affecting the rights and protections provided under this section.

(a) Collection of prospective recruit information; digital collection

The Secretary concerned may collect Prospective Recruit Information with respect to prospective recruits for the Armed Forces who are at least 17 years of age for the purpose of enhancing marketing, advertising, and outreach to possible prospective recruits for recruitment for service in the Armed Forces. In the case of any such prospective recruit, such information may only be collected—

(b) Responsible person

The process for obtaining consent under subsection (a) shall be carried out so that—

(c) Consent

Consent may be granted, and Prospective Recruit Information may be collected, under subsection (a) through a military recruiting digital website or platform. The collection of Prospective Recruit Information may be accomplished by the use of cookies or similar technology.

(d) Prospective Recruit Information

(e) Prospective Recruit information defined

In this section, the term Prospective Recruit Information means, with respect to a prospective recruit for the Armed Forces, the following:

(f) Sunset

The authority established under subsection (a) shall terminate on December 31, 2031.

(a) Authority

(b) Regulations

Each Secretary concerned shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section and the amendments made by this section, including eligibility criteria, performance standards, and procedures for monitoring compliance.

(a) Merit requirement

Any Department of Defense military personnel action related to promotions, nominative assignments, command selection, and military and civil schooling selection shall be based exclusively on individual merit, fitness, capability, and performance.

(b) Consideration of certain attributes prohibited

Consideration of an individual’s sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin in any military personnel action described in subsection (a) is prohibited throughout the Department of Defense.

(c) Limited exception for tasking of specific missions

(a) In general

(b) Rules of construction

(c) Definitions

In this section—

(a) Diversity requirements for selection boards

Title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(b) Pronoun policy repeal

Section 986 of title 10, United States Code, is repealed.

(c) Human relations training

Section 2001(a)(1)(B) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking include and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting include honor, excellence, courage, and commitment..

(1)

in the section heading, by striking Gender-neutral and inserting Sex-neutral;

(2)

in subsection (a)—

(3)

in subsection (b)—

(4)

in subsection (c), by striking gender-neutral occupational standard and inserting sex-neutral occupational standard;

(5)

by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e);

(6)

by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection:

(d) Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the Secretary from revising occupational performance standards, where such standards are based on validated operational requirements and applied on a sex-neutral basis.; and

(7)

in subsection (e)(1), as redesignated by paragraph (4)—

(a) Analysis regarding potential removal of military mission or environment as required element of offense

The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Joint Service Committee on Military Justice, shall analyze the feasibility and advisability of amending section 917a(a) of title 10, United States Code, (article 117a(a) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) to remove paragraph (4) (relating to requiring as an element of the offense, conduct [that has] a reasonably direct and palpable connection to a military mission or military environment).

(b) Report

Not later than December 31, 2027, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report detailing the results of the analysis conducted under subsection (a) and any associated recommendations.

(1)

in subsection (e)(3), by striking subparagraph (C); and

(2)

by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(g) Review by the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

(1)

The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces may review all decisions or dispositions taken by a Court of Criminal Appeals pursuant to a petition filed by the victim of an offense under this chapter under subsection (e) and on good cause shown.

(2)

The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces shall take action only with respect to matters of law.

(3)

The victim of an offense under this chapter may petition the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces for review pursuant to paragraph (1) not later than 21 days after the earlier of—

(A)

the date on which the victim is notified of the decision or disposition of the Court of Criminal Appeals on a petition pursuant to subsection (e); and

(B)

the date on which a copy of the decision or disposition of the Court of Criminal Appeals, after being served on counsel for the victim (if the victim has counsel), is deposited into the United States mails for delivery by first-class certified mail to the victim at an address provided by the victim or at the latest address listed for the victim in the record of any proceedings held pursuant to section 830(a) or 832 of this title (article 30(a) or 32) or during trial.

(4)

Review of any decision or disposition of the Court of Criminal Appeals on a petition for writ of mandamus described in this subsection shall have priority in the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, as determined under the rules of the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

(1)

by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);

(2)

in paragraph (1)(B), by striking Appeals and— and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting Appeals and the review and time requirements described in paragraph (2) are satisfied.; and

(3)

by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph (2):

(2) Review and time requirements

The review and time requirements referred to in paragraph (1)(B) are satisfied if any of the following applies:

(A)

The time for the accused to file a petition for review by the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces has expired and the accused has not filed a petition for such review in a timely manner and the case is not otherwise under review by that Court.

(B)

The petition for review is withdrawn by the accused.

(C)

The petition for review having been filed—

(i)

either—

(I)

the petition is denied or otherwise rejected by the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces; or

(II)

the review requested by the petition is completed in accordance with the judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces; and

(ii)

with respect to subsequent review by the Supreme Court—

(I)

a petition for a writ of certiorari as provided in section 1259 of title 28 is not filed within the time limits prescribed by the Supreme Court;

(II)

such a petition is rejected by the Supreme Court;

(III)

such a petition is withdrawn by the petitioner; or

(IV)

review is otherwise completed in accordance with the judgment of the Supreme Court.

(a) Review when direct appeal is waived, withdrawn, or not filed

Section 865(d) of title 10, United States Code (article 65(d) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), is amended—

(b) Technical correction

Section 869(c)(2) of title 10, United States Code (article 69(c)(2) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), is amended by striking section 865(b) of this title (article 65(b)) and inserting section 865(d) of this title (article 65(d)).

(1)

in paragraph (3)—

(2)

by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively; and

(3)

by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph:

(4) Pretrial agreements

If a special trial counsel exercises authority pursuant to subsection (d) over an offense committed before January 1, 2019, the special trial counsel may enter into a pretrial agreement with the accused in accordance with regulations prescribed by the President. Upon acceptance of such an agreement by the military judge of a general or special court-martial, the agreement shall bind the parties and the convening authority.

(1)

by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:

(B)

whether the portion of the sentence extending to confinement is inappropriately severe, except that in the case of an offense for which the President has established a sentencing parameter for such portion pursuant to section 539E(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (10 U.S.C. 856 note), the Court may not consider such portion inappropriately severe if such portion is at or below the upper range of such sentencing parameter;; and

(2)

in subparagraph (C), by striking the sentence and inserting the portion of the sentence extending to confinement.

(a) Pre-referral subpoenas for electronic communications

Section 830a(a)(1)(B) of title 10, United States Code (article 30a(a)(1)(B) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), is amended by striking warrants or orders and inserting warrants, orders, or subpoenas.

(b) Authority to issue investigative subpoenas related to wire and electronic communications

Section 846(d)(3) of title 10, United States Code (article 46(d)(3) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), is amended—

(a) Amendments

Section 1044e of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(b) Effective date

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect two years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c) Briefing

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the implementation of policies and procedures to carry out the changes required pursuant to subsection (a).

(a) Analysis required

(b) Report

Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the results of the analysis under subsection (a), including a justification for any decision not to codify hazing as a punitive article under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

(1)

in the section heading, by inserting and victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault after civilian law enforcement;

(2)

in subsection (a), by inserting and, in a case involving domestic abuse or sexual assault, the victim or requesting individual, after appropriate civilian authorities; and

(3)

in subsection (c), by inserting and, in a case involving domestic abuse or sexual assault, the victim or requesting individual, after appropriate civilian authorities.

(a) In general

The Secretary of Defense shall establish and implement Department of Defense policy to require commanders, in response to domestic violence reports or complaints, to make an initial determination as to the credibility of the report or complaint. If the report is deemed credible, in consultation with the victim, the commander should—

(b) Briefing

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Department of Defense shall provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives concerning any additional authorities necessary to properly implement the policy referenced in subsection (a), as well as the establishment of a process to maintain emergent housing entitlements to basic allowance for housing or military housing units in support of domestic violence victims for up to 180 days.

(a) Report

(b) Briefing requirement

The Secretary of Defense shall brief the congressional defense committees not later than 30 days after implementing any changes based on the recommendations of the panel and review described in subsection (a)(1).

(a) Persons subject to UCMJ

Section 802(d)(2)(B) of title 10, United States Code (article 2(d)(2)(B) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), is amended by inserting or during a period specified in subsection (a)(3)(B) after on inactive-duty training.

(b) Jurisdiction to try certain personnel

Section 803(d) of such title (article 3(d) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), by striking The following persons and inserting Except as provided in subsection (e), the following persons;

(2)

by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and

(3)

by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsection:

(e)

(1)

With respect to members to whom the provisions of this chapter are made applicable by paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (14) of subsection (a), except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the provisions of subchapter X shall not be applicable to any—

(A)

conduct of such members which constitutes or pertains to political speech;

(B)

expressions pertaining to the actions, character, motivations, qualifications, or other attributes of government officials; or

(C)

statements of the law.

(2)

The exception under paragraph (1) shall not apply to a member—

(A)

to whom this chapter is applicable under a paragraph of subsection (a) other than one of the paragraphs referenced in paragraph (1) of this subsection; or

(B)

who is wearing a military uniform.

(a) Limitations

(b) Definitions

In this section:

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(2)

by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

(b)

The authority of the Secretary under subsection (a) may be delegated to the Superintendent of the Naval Academy.

(a) Modification of applicability of repealed section

Section 553(c)(2) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 132 Stat. 1773) is amended by striking The repeal made under paragraph (1) and inserting The amendments made by this section.

(b) Effective date

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect as if included in the enactment of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232).

(1)

in subsection (a)(2), by striking Not more than 25 officers and enlisted members from each military department and inserting Not more than 35 members from each military service; and

(2)

in subsection (c)—

(a) United States Military Academy

Section 7451 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(b) United States Air Force Academy

Section 9451 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(c) Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to the first academic year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(a) United States Military Academy

Subsection (e)(2)(C)(i) of section 7461 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking 72 hours each place it appears and inserting five calendar days.

(b) United States Naval Academy

Subsection (e)(2)(C)(i) of section 8480 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking 72 hours each place it appears and inserting five calendar days.

(c) United States Air Force Academy

Subsection (e)(2)(C)(i) of section 9461 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking 72 hours each place it appears and inserting five calendar days.

(a) Establishment

(b) Objective

The objective of the Program is to promote the readiness and interoperability of the United States Armed Forces and the military forces of partner countries by providing a high-quality, cost effective military-based educational experience for foreign students in furtherance of the military-to-military program objectives of the Department of Defense and to enhance the educational experience and preparation of future United States military leaders through increased, extended interaction with highly qualified potential foreign military leaders.

(c) Activities

(d) Strategy

(e) Report

(f) Limitation on authority

The Secretary of Defense may not use the authority provided under this section to pay for tuition or room and board for foreign students who participate in the Program.

(g) Termination

The Program shall terminate on December 31, 2032.

(a) In general

Chapter 58 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

1156. Senior official for military-to-civilian transition

(a) Designation

The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall designate a senior official of the Department of Defense to oversee policy and programs related to the transition of members of the armed forces from active duty to civilian life or reserve components.

(b) Qualifications

The official designated under paragraph (1) shall be designated from among individuals with appropriate experience in military personnel policy, transition assistance, veterans' affairs, or related matters.

(c) Role, responsibility, and authority

(1)

Subject to paragraph (2), the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall prescribe the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of the official designated under subsection (a).

(2)

The roles, responsibilities, and authorities prescribed under paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to the transition of members of the armed forces from active duty to civilian life and reserve components and the families of such members experiencing such transition—

(A)

serving as the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness on policies, operations, and programs and activities relating to the transition of members;

(B)

assisting the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness with policies, operations, and programs and activities relating to the transition of members;

(C)

working, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Education, to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of all activities relating to the transition of members;

(D)

serving as the principal coordinator for military-to-civilian transition policy within the Department of Defense, with the mission of coordinating and overseeing the effectiveness of transition programs of the Department of Defense and ensuring all members of the armed forces are well equipped for civilian life or the reserve components, as the case may be;

(E)

overseeing the implementation of transition programs in the Department of Defense;

(F)

conducting a review and assessment of all transition programs and services offered by the Department of Defense, including the programs under this chapter, and proposing legislative or administrative action—

(i)

to improve the efficacy and efficiency of the programs; and

(ii)

to ensure compliance with all legal requirements related to transition assistance; and

(G)

working with Federal agencies, State and local governments, and nongovernmental organizations to improve the delivery of transition support services to members and families of members.

(b) Implementation and briefing

(a) Authority

Section 2007 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(b) Increase in per-semester-hour cap

The Secretary of Defense may prescribe regulations increasing the per-semester-hour cap for tuition assistance offered by the military services to not more than $350 per semester-hour.

(c) Annual report